New England Patriots: Revisiting and Grading the 2009 NFL Draft
By Hal Bent
Dec 23, 2012; Jacksonville, FL, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer (76) react to a play during the first half of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
2nd Round: #34 overall: Patrick Chung, Safety
2nd Round #40 overall: Ron Brace, Defensive Tackle
2nd Round #41 overall: Darius Butler, Cornerback
2nd Round #58 overall: Sebastian Vollmer, Offensive Tackle
The New England Patriots wheeled and dealed into four second round draft picks by virtue of trade-downs, picks acquired in previous trades, and trading quarterback Matt Cassel and longtime linebacker Mike Vrabel to Kansas City. With this plethora of picks, the Patriots looked to add four impact players. Unfortunately, they hit on one of four.
Patrick Chung had two decent and two not-so-good seasons in New England. He was what he was: a big hitter with some athleticism and poor coverage skills. Chung wore out his welcome getting beat deep on a regular basis and missing tackles trying to make a big hit. Rather than pairing with 2007 1st round draft pick Brandon Meriweather to form a dynamic safety duo for the future, both players are now just average players on another team’s roster.
Defensive tackle Ron Brace was big, and a big disappointment in New England. Injuries and ineffectiveness defined the tenure of Brace in New England. Brace played only 55 snaps as a rookie losing time 6th round draft pick Myron Pryor. By 2010 undrafted free agents Kyle Love and Brandon Deaderick was passing him on the depth chart with veteran Gerard Warren imported via free agency to handle the position. By 2011 it was more injuries and veterans Shaun Ellis and Albert Haynesworth brought in to pick up the load at defensive tackle. Finally after a disappointing 2012 behind Love and Deaderick again, Brace was shown the door.
One pick later, the Patriots grabbed cornerback Darius Butler. With a gaping hole at cornerback (Incumbent Jonathan Wilhite was joined by veterans Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs in 2009) Butler played right away and flashed some promise. In 2010 Butler had moved ahead of Wilhite but behind newcomers Kyle Arrington and rookie Devin McCourty. Butler was shockingly cut in September 2011 giving way to rookie Ras-I Dowling (a true lose-lose proposition). Butler initially was in Carolina before finding a home in Indianapolis as a slot cornerback.
The Patriots hit big on their fourth 2nd round draft pick (#58 overall) with massive tackle Sebastian Vollmer. While hampered by back injuries and his 2013 season cut short by a gruesome broken leg, Vollmer has been the saving grace of the 2009 draft for New England. While a surprise pick at the time (watching the draft analysts trying to figure out “who the heck was this guy?” was a draft highlight. Vollmer has proven to be a first round talent and played right away in 2009 with starting left tackle Matt Light injured.
SHOULD HAVE DRAFTED:
One pick after Patrick Chung at #35 overall was linebacker James Laurinaitis who was grabbed by St. Louis. Considering the 2009 Patriots trotted out Pierre Woods, Tully Banta-Cain, Adalius Thomas, Gary Guyton, and even brought back Junior Seau to play with second-year player Jerod Mayo at linebacker, there was a definite need at the position.
Directly after Ron Brace and Darius Butler went off the board, the Bills grabbed safety Jairus Byrd. The three-time Pro Bowl safety sure would look better than Patrick Chung did in New England’s secondary. Excellent guard Andy Levitre went to Buffalo at #51 overall and superstar running back LeSean McCoy went to Philadelphia at #53. Other notable players going off the board in that area were defensive tackle Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton (#72 to Jacksonville and last seen destroying New England’s interior offensive line in AFC Championship Game for Denver) and Cincinnati’s dynamic defensive end Michael Johnson at #70 overall.
GRADE: C